Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-02-24
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS.
Resume of the Doings in Both House


LANSING, Feb'y 81. 1887.
The senate passed the bill to organize
the county of Luce, but refused to give ii
immediate effect because the bill gave to
the governor the appointment Of the coun.
ty officers. The next dav the bill was
brought out again for discussion by a
senator who objects to naming the county
after living man. and proposed to change
the name OF the county from Luce
to Lincoln. This proposition raised some
thing or commotion. and rather lively
debate ensued. The motion to change the
name was lost by vote of to 13, and the
bill was recommitted.
1t is reported, and on good authority,
too, that two agents OF graveyard insur-
ance companies are at work to prevent
the passage of the bill to regulate the bust
ness OF cooperative insurance. In spite
of the efforts of these lobbyists, however,
the bill will undoubtedly go through.
The bill to repeal the wide wagon tire
act has been adversely reported in the
senate, and the bill tabled. The bill was
passed several years ago and makes con-
who use wagons with wide tires. 1t Is
generally conceded that the effect of the
law has been to keep the public highway
in much better condition.
The non-partisan state central commit
tee, appointed at Detroit on the llth inst
by the friends of the proposed prohibitory
amendment, held meeting in the city on
the 10Th. About twenty persons were
present. Among them were Prof Dickie
of Albion, David Preston and the Rev r.
A. Blades of Detroit, ID. p. Sagendorph of
Inspector LaDu of Coral, Guernsey p.
Warning OF Lansing, W. ID. Fuller Of New
aygo. The object of the meeting was to
arrange for the thorough organization,
and this work will be commenced at once
Some counties have already organized,
and into the Others organizers will be inn
mediately sent. About 100 speakers will
be put upon the stump, and part of the
work OF the committee was to arrange
how best to use them.
The joint select committee on the Lyons
disaster have made their report, stating
that on their visit to Lyons they found
twenty four families. containing eighty
nine persons, who were penniless, and
whom they think the state should aid.
This does not include business men or 9TH
ers who can repair their losses. The COM
mittee introduced a joint resolution ap-
propriating $4,000, of which 81 900 is to be
used in breaking up the ice gorge by the
use OF dynamite, and S3,OOO Tor the tempo
rary relief of those in distress. The reso-
luton DasSeQ Lle mousse ny u NOtt Oh oil 10
/. In the senate the matter was referred
TO the committee on appropriations and
finance, and at the evening session was
again called up and passed by more than
the necessary two-thirds.
Gov. Luce has signed the bills incorpor-
ating Romeo and abolishing the superior
court of Detroit.
The rush of bills since the legislature
reconvened on the 18th, has been beyond
the capacity OF the clerks TO index them.
In both houses the committee clerks have
been pressed into service and still the
work is far behind.
A bill has been introduced in the house
appropriating $40, 600 for the erection of q
hospital and barn at and the purchase ola
carriage for the Soldiers Home at Grand
Rapids. A bill for the general support OF
the institution was also introduced at the
same time. The amount was left blank.
Representative Dixon says the managers
of the Soldiers Home ask for $500, 900.
Speaker Marley is of an economical term
Of mind. He called the attention of mem
bers few days ago to extravaganza mani
tested by the house in printing duplica-
tions Of petitions, specifying instances
where such Implications filled pages of the
journal. Nothing contained in these print
ed petitions gave members any additional
insight into the~wfshes Of the people over
the ordinary petitions, which were always
referred to committees and received due
care and attention.
In response to a resolution of inquiry
the Adjutant- General sent to the house a
the other day, saying that
a careful examination OF the books in his
Office and the acts of the legislature has
failed to show that any promises Of
bounty were made to soldiers enlisting
in 1861 and 1862 that has not been kept.
He then gave in detail the legislation re-
lating to bounties and the amounts paid at
different periods. The report has a bear
ing on the bill for the equalization OF
bounties.
A slender figure, dressed in the quiet
garb of the Quakers, with gray hair and a
face whose brightness Father Time can
never dim, was seen in the legislative
halls the other, day. 1t was Aunt
has been present at some portion of
svery session, usually in the advo-
cacy of some legislation looking to-
ward the care and education Of the de-
pendent or the reformation OF the fallen.
lar mission. Ijust came" said she, ITO
shake the hands Of the republican men,
bers Of the legislature for passing the pro-
hibition amendment, and l do wish we
women were people. l always tell them
when go to pay my taxes that there are
the taxes but they've no right to them.
have been widow for forty-two years
and have paid good many hundred dol
ars in taxes, but never could vote"
The committee on the soldiers home ut
Jrand Rapids have not yet completed the
'eport of their investigation but hope to
,ave 1t ready in few days.
After nearly two weeks vacation, which
has been spent by some in making a tour
or the state and inspecting the various
state institutions, and by others in attend
Ing to private business, the legislators
were promptly on hand on the 18th, and
ready Tor work.
cation, their constituents have not been
idle II the flood Of petitions which came
pouring in Is any criterion. Among the
petitions there were q number each for
raising the age Of consent to Is; for the
passage OF the bill equalizing the bounties
OF soldiers, an act for prohibiting the sale
OF Intoxicating liquors within one mile OF
the soldiers home. Those for the equaliz-
alton OF bounties were the most numerous,
several OF them coming from grand army
received for an additional judge of the
Wayne circuit court, for legislation relat-
ing to the crossing of railroads by each
other, for amendments to the drain law
and for the reorganization of the judicial
circuits. Vigorous RI circumstances were
received against the restoration OF the
death penalty and against the passage OF
the German bill.
The petitions were followed by shower
OF bills, covering almost every subject
that can safely come within the range OF
legislative action. Many OF them were